The Scots decide independence from Britain. – Politics

A decision made “once in a generation,” as Boris Johnson recently described the process. The British prime minister was referring to Scotland’s independence referendum, which was last held in 2014, when 55 percent of Scots voted against secession from the United Kingdom. For Johnson and the British government, the case is closed, and for a long time. Ironically, Johnson is the main reason why so many Scots see things differently.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants to know exactly how many Scots. On Tuesday, she announced in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh that she wanted another referendum on the question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” I suggested October 19, 2023 as the date. In the afternoon, her government made a similar request to the British High Court.

Sturgeon’s statement comes after she announced a few weeks ago that she intends to carry out her election promise made last year: Sturgeons will win the Scottish election in 2021. SNP With 47 percent of the vote, along with the Green Party, it has since formed the regional government. Both parties promised to lead Scotland to another referendum.

62 per cent of Scots voted against Brexit

“Now is the time,” Sturgeon said in a speech repeatedly stopped by harassment and applause. She would “never, never” allow “Scottish democracy to be a prisoner of Boris Johnson”. That’s exactly what sturgeon is doing now: “The Conservatives have taken us out of the EU,” Sturgeon said. In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 62 per cent of Scots voted against leaving the EU, and the consequences of Brexit, such as the hard-hit British economy, are the main drivers behind many Scots’ desire for independence.

However, there is no clear majority yet. Scottish polling institute scottson It has been measuring Scots’ desire for independence regularly since 2016, taking into account several surveys. Accordingly, in the fall of 2020, there was a majority in favor of independence, but values ​​\u200b\u200bgenerally fluctuate. Currently, 45 per cent of Scots will vote for independence, and 46 per cent against it. But Sturgeon knows that as long as Boris Johnson, who is very unpopular in Scotland, lives and works in Downing Street, her government stands absolutely no chance. She said on Tuesday that Labor and the Liberal Democrats also wouldn’t help the independence cause if the Conservatives lost the next general election “as they deserve” – ​​but Westminster’s hostile image may only work with Johnson’s Conservative Party.

Johnson wants to reject a binding referendum. It’s more than a referendum

From a legal point of view, the referendum should be approved by the government in London, and Johnson has made it clear several times that he will not. Sturgeon, in turn, has now assured that there will be no illegal referendum with her. Hence the request to the Supreme Court for a referendum, which would not be automatically binding. In other words, if the majority votes for independence, it will not lead to independence immediately, but will have the value of a referendum. After all, much remains unclear, such as whether an independent Scotland will actually join the European Union.

If the Supreme Court rejects the request, Sturgeon has said her party will contest the next election only on the question of independence – and thus the election will be turned into a referendum. However, Sturgeon himself seems to realize that he won’t get there. Scottish Announces On Tuesday I reported that a team of 20 officials had already assembled in Edinburgh to work on the referendum campaign. Cost point: about 1.4 million euros.